Eli Manning may be leading Giants into final battle with Cowboys

Eli Manning may be leading Giants into final battle with Cowboys

With the 2018 season coming to an end, the Dallas Cowboys will to travel to New York to face the Giants and QB Eli Manning for what will be the 29th time in his Iron Man 15-year NFL career.

It has been a fascinating and dramatic series full of memorable moments with the current scoreboard standing at 15 Cowboy wins versus 13 Manning-led Giant victories. Manning has started and finished each of the previous 28 games, and has been a focal piece of the rivalry through its history.

Although the Giants have been non-committal on Manning’s status going into the 2019 season, this could possibly be the swan song for a long and remarkable string of encounters.

The last time the Cowboys lined up against a New York team without Manning at the helm was on October 24, 2004, when Hall-Of-Famer Kurt Warner put up a 26-10 win at the Cowboys’ former home, Texas Stadium in Irving.

As this game is potentially the final showdown in a historic set of matchups, it is time to take stock and note some of the more significant points of the series.

January 2, 2005 – First start against Dallas, first career win

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Late in a lost season for both teams, the Giants and Cowboys squared off in New York, setting up Mannings’ debut against America’s Team. The rookie put up a respectable if not spectacular performance, completing 66 percent of his throws and recording touchdown passes to three different receivers in the 28-24 win. This game marked Manning’s first career win as well his first of what would be 37 game-winning drives.

October 23, 2006 – Tony Romo’s national debut

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In the first of the eighteen times the two faced each other, Cowboys QB Tony Romo got his first extended playing action versus Manning in this 2006 contest. With Dallas trailing 12-7 in the first half, starter Drew Bledsoe threw an unforgivable interception to CB Sam Madison near the Giants goal and that prompted Head Coach Bill Parcells to pull the plug, inserting Romo. The Romo era began in rough fashion as his first pass was intercepted and he added two more, including a 96-yarder returned for a Giants score.

Ultimately, New York would take the game 36-22 behind two Manning TD passes.

January 13, 2008 – NFC Divisional Playoffs

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The 2007 Cowboys had homefield advantage for the duration of their stay in the playoffs. Dallas came in with a gaudy 13-3 record and were fresh off an ill-advised trip to Cabo when they were promptly bounced from the tournament by a Giants team that eventually used this game as a springboard to a Lombardi Trophy.

After two regular season losses, New York came into the game with a chip on their shoulder looking to avoid being swept in the third head-to-head.

Manning played a huge part in a significant shift in momentum that ultimately crested New York to the win. After going down 14-7 with 0:53 left in the half, Manning quickly engineered a five-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in a four-yard toss to Amani Toomer for the tying score to even the game at 14-14. The second half featured a number of Dallas gaffes and penalties and steady play from No. 10.

At the conclusion of the 21-17 win, Manning had posted a modest 12 of 18 for 163 yards and two TD passes.

September 20, 2009 – Opening night at Cowboys Stadium

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Manning and his Giants were given the privilege of being the Cowboys’ first opponent in the newly-christened Cowboys Stadium in Week 2 of the 2009 season. In front of 105,121 rabid Dallas fans, Manning led the Giants to a 33-31 win after a 37-yard FG by kicker Lawrence Tynes with four seconds left.

Manning put up 330 yards and two touchdowns without an interception or getting sacked. This was perhaps the most thrilling nail-biter of the entire series.

Manning took the victor’s spoils, scrawling his signature on the column in the visitor’s locker room.

If Eli Manning autographs the wall of the new Cowboys stadium again tonight, what will he write? pic.twitter.com/nqSvM9O4

November 14, 2010 – Jason Garrett’s first game as HC

In this contest, then-interim head coach Jason Garrett took his Cowboys into the Meadowlands to face a 6-2 Giants team in his first game after being installed in place of the fired Wade Phillips. Manning had yet another big game, going 33-48 for 373 yards and 2 TDs.

Unfortunately for Manning, the pivotal play the game was a 101-yard pick six by Cowboys CB Bryan McCann late in the first half which gave Dallas a 15-3 lead that they never looked back from. At the end of the day, Garrett had secured his first ever NFL victory, 33-20.

September 8, 2013 – Brandon Carr steals the win

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In what would become a mini-tradition, the NFL schedule makers put the Cowboys and Giants up in 2013’s Sunday Night Football season opener. This was another thriller that had everyone on the edge of their seats.

Manning had a very impressive statistical performance but also was victimized by three interceptions. With Dallas clinging to a 30-24 lead, Manning was driving his offense with 2:00 remaining when he threw behind his intended receiver and the pass was intercepted by CB Brandon Carr who took the gift 49 yards to the house to provide the clinching points.

The 36-31 loss featured a series-high for passing yardage (450) and TD passes (4) for Manning. It also provided a chuckle for Cowboy fans as Manning’s frustration was manifested in one of several “Eli reaction” gifs.

November 23, 2014 – Odell Beckham / “The Catch II” Loss

Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

In a singular and since highly overrated play, Manning aided Odell Beckham Jr.’s bally-hooed one handed snare that put the young pass catcher on the map.

Despite the Mandela effect that has made the play significant, it ultimately was not as Dallas actually won the football game. Manning had his fourth best statistical outing against the Cowboys with 338 yards and 3 TDs. He had the Giants on the edge of a victory until a late Tony Romo pass to Dez Bryant sealed the 31-28 final score.

If this is indeed Manning’s finale versus Dallas, he will be adding to his over 600 completions, nearly 7,000 yards and 50 TDs versus 28 interceptions, 58 sacks and 9 fumbles.